5G mast in Reading refused for being "excessive"
Mobile firm Three wanted to place it in the middle of a residential area
Plans for a new 15-metre high 5G tower in the centre of Tilehurst in Reading have been refused due to its “excessive height and overall”, which council officers said would have a “detrimental” impact on area.
The mast for mobile company Three would have been next to the Prince of Wales pub on St Michaels Road.
Officers also said, due to the lack of sufficient detail on potential alternative sites for development, it could not be assessed whether the proposed location would be the most suitable, suggesting it may have been approved if other sites were proven to be unsuitable.
Commenting on the plans ahead of the decision, local ward councillor Ricky Duveen, said the mast would “stick out like a sore thumb”.
Responding, a Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and business of Tilehurst. We want to offer the local area a great network experience and our planners determined that a new site was required to deliver it.”